An Historical Inquiry with a Special Treat for our Scottish Brethren

[scruffy1]

I am very much attracted to all things historical and archeological, Roman Medieval, Jewish and Christian - especially those concerning Saint James and would ask some few moments of your time and experience for the following inquiry. I recently watched a short video from the English Channel 4 appearing on YouTube and concerning the history and archeology of a forgotten town in Scotland, now vanished. Roxburgh was an important trading center in High Medieval to early modern Scotland. In the Middle Ages it had at least as much importance as Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, or Berwick-upon-Tweed, for a time acting as de facto capital (as royal residence of Scottish King David I). The town thrived during these several hundred years from the production and sale of wool and cattle hides sold to merchants and industry in Flanders (then ruled by the Dukes of Burgandy) until the perfidious English conquered the town and then the port of Berwick effectively strangling this trade route and the abandonment of the town.
The producers of this video knew that the most important streets in this town were called Royal Street and Market Street. Further, that the busiest and most important market days occurred during the last week of July and the first of August. Lastly, that the church/cathedral in Roxburg was dedicated to…Saint James. They didn't reveal or didn't know that this important market, setting the financial base for the next entire year for all of Southern Scotland over several hundred years, was directly connected to Saint James' feast day.
My question. Was there a similar custom in Santiago or other parts of Galicia, or anywhere else for that matter dating from modern or historical times, of an all-important yearly market day around July 25? I know the cathedral in Santiago was supported historically, and in part, by that special tax raised all over Spain, a tax like many other, that is, not really appreciated by those far from Galicia. To anyones knowledge, was there a special celebration, market, or holiday beyond the festivities of July 25? Thank you for your interest.

PS Saint James plays but a very small part in this video though a small part of the cathedral was discovered, it may be seen here:

 

[Icacos]

I am very much attracted to all things historical and archeological, Roman Medieval, Jewish and Christian - especially those concerning Saint James and would ask some few moments of your time and experience for the following inquiry. I recently watched a short video from the English Channel 4 appearing on YouTube and concerning the history and archeology of a forgotten town in Scotland, now vanished. Roxburgh was an important trading center in High Medieval to early modern Scotland. In the Middle Ages it had at least as much importance as Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, or Berwick-upon-Tweed, for a time acting as de facto capital (as royal residence of Scottish King David I). The town thrived during these several hundred years from the production and sale of wool and cattle hides sold to merchants and industry in Flanders (then ruled by the Dukes of Burgandy) until the perfidious English conquered the town and then the port of Berwick effectively strangling this trade route and the abandonment of the town.
The producers of this video knew that the most important streets in this town were called Royal Street and Market Street. Further, that the busiest and most important market days occurred during the last week of July and the first of August. Lastly, that the church/cathedral in Roxburg was dedicated to…Saint James. They didn't reveal or didn't know that this important market, setting the financial base for the next entire year for all of Southern Scotland over several hundred years, was directly connected to Saint James' feast day.
My question. Was there a similar custom in Santiago or other parts of Galicia, or anywhere else for that matter dating from modern or historical times, of an all-important yearly market day around July 25? I know the cathedral in Santiago was supported historically, and in part, by that special tax raised all over Spain, a tax like many other, that is, not really appreciated by those far from Galicia. To anyones knowledge, was there a special celebration, market, or holiday beyond the festivities of July 25? Thank you for your interest.

PS Saint James plays but a very small part in this video though a small part of the cathedral was discovered, it may be seen here:

Sorry I can't help with your query @scruffy1 but, having visited Scotland (the highlands only) a few years ago and fallen in love with the country, I found this video and your post most interesting. Thank you for sharing.

 

[rubyslippers]

Scruffy 1 - I inherited a book from my mother who was a genealogist. She's studied and lectured on Scotland / England and the Borderlands. You should see if you can find a book called "The Steel Bonnets" The story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers. By George Macdonald Fraser. It's an amazing book of the history of this very period. I just read that there were several towns burned and Roxburgh was one. I absolutely loved this Discover Episode and thanks so very much for posting it. I don't have an answer to your question.

 

[ebrandt]

I am very much attracted to all things historical and archeological, Roman Medieval, Jewish and Christian - especially those concerning Saint James and would ask some few moments of your time and experience for the following inquiry. I recently watched a short video from the English Channel 4 appearing on YouTube and concerning the history and archeology of a forgotten town in Scotland, now vanished. Roxburgh was an important trading center in High Medieval to early modern Scotland. In the Middle Ages it had at least as much importance as Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, or Berwick-upon-Tweed, for a time acting as de facto capital (as royal residence of Scottish King David I). The town thrived during these several hundred years from the production and sale of wool and cattle hides sold to merchants and industry in Flanders (then ruled by the Dukes of Burgandy) until the perfidious English conquered the town and then the port of Berwick effectively strangling this trade route and the abandonment of the town.
The producers of this video knew that the most important streets in this town were called Royal Street and Market Street. Further, that the busiest and most important market days occurred during the last week of July and the first of August. Lastly, that the church/cathedral in Roxburg was dedicated to…Saint James. They didn't reveal or didn't know that this important market, setting the financial base for the next entire year for all of Southern Scotland over several hundred years, was directly connected to Saint James' feast day.
My question. Was there a similar custom in Santiago or other parts of Galicia, or anywhere else for that matter dating from modern or historical times, of an all-important yearly market day around July 25? I know the cathedral in Santiago was supported historically, and in part, by that special tax raised all over Spain, a tax like many other, that is, not really appreciated by those far from Galicia. To anyones knowledge, was there a special celebration, market, or holiday beyond the festivities of July 25? Thank you for your interest.

PS Saint James plays but a very small part in this video though a small part of the cathedral was discovered, it may be seen here:

Scruffy1 -- I can't answer your question. But I loved you post of the time team video. We lived in London for part of the year in 2013 and became addicted to that show! Watching the video brought back good memories!